A Setback for the U.S. Squad
The United States men's national team will be without its leading scorer for the decisive round‑of‑16 encounter against Belgium, after Folarin Balogun was shown a red card in the recent victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun's dismissal came after he stepped on an opponent's ankle following a goal that had put the Americans ahead, a moment that swung the momentum but also incurred a standard one‑match suspension that cannot be appealed.
Options for the Coach
Coach Mauricio Pochettino has indicated that the team may experiment with a two‑forward formation, pairing Ricardo Pepi with Haji Wright, or could deploy Christian Pulisic in a more central position to compensate for the loss of Balogun's firepower.
Historical Context
The situation draws a historical parallel to Zinedine Zidane, who was the last player to both score and be sent off in a World Cup knockout match back in 2006, highlighting the rarity of Balogun's circumstance.
Looking Ahead
With the match against Belgium representing a critical test, the U.S. must navigate the absence of Balogun while hoping that a collective effort can secure progression to the quarterfinals, a stage that would automatically reinstate the suspended striker.